Leeann Velez Tweeden (born June 13, 1973) is an American model. Tweeden was born in Manassas, Virginia. After graduating from Osbourn Park High School in 1991, Tweeden pursued a career in modeling. In 1992, while working as a hostess at a Hooters restaurant (she was in their 1994 calendar) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she won first place in the Venus International Model Search. This break led to national exposure. Tweeden modeled for promotional work for Hooters and Venus International along with Frederick's of Hollywood and Playboy.